Dimmer switch for motor cars, motorcycles, and bicycles



May 23, 1933. G. STEINER 1,910,569

DIMMER SWITCH FDR MOTOR CARS, MOTORCYCLES, AND BICYCLES Filed Nov. 25,1931 fiyfi )ZgzJ @9 IQ S /z e e a y 0 9 /r m jaw.

Patented May 23, 1933 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GOTTLIEB STEINER, OFSOLOTHURN', SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNQR TO SCINTILLA AKTIEN'GESELLSCHAFT, OFSOLOTHURN, SWITZERLAND DIMMER SWITCH FOR MOTOR CARS, MOTORCYCLES, ANDBICYCLES Thisinvention relates to dimmer switches for motor-cars,motor-cycles and bicycles in which the dimming of the lamps is effectedby switching in a dimming lamp and in which the switch drum is turned inthe same direction of rotation, thereby switching in alternately thenormal filaments and the dimming filaments. According to the invention,the switch drum is displaced aside by 110 a push member in a planerectangular or nearly rectangular to the direction of movement of saidpush member and turned at the same time from one switching position tothe next one.

In the accompanying drawing various constructional "forms of theinvention are shown diagrammatically and will now be described in detailbut without implication of limitation beyondthe scope of the inventionas set forth in the claims:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the switch.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section turned through 90 with regard to Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 shows in an enlarged scale the switch drum, the bracket for theswitch drum and the push member.

Fig. 5 represents the bracket of the switch drum.

Figs. 6-7 and 8-9 are two more examples of the switch drum.

In the Figures 1 to 5 e is the switch drum with square cross-section. Onboth ends of this switch drum are mounted the U-shaped switch segments Zand Z the arms of which form the switch segments proper. These segmentsare displaced by 90 one in relation to the other in the direction ofrotation. 40 These switch segments are in connection with the source ofcurrent by the two resilient arms of the bracket 9 which is fixed to theinsulating plate on by means of rivets and of the current in-putterminal h. Between 5 the two arms of the bracket of the switchApplication filed November 25, 1931, Serial No. 577,367, and in GermanyJanuary 2, 1931.

sulating plate m with the current out-put terminals 70.

a is the casing over the narrower part 7 of which the switch cover I) isslidably mounted. his cover is held in its upper position by means ofthe spring (Z. To the cover 6 is fixed a push member 0 with squarecross-section held in its upper position by a pin 9 and guided in thecasing.

In the Figures l and 5 n represents the bearing slots for the switchdrum 0. Push ing the switch cover downwards the switch drum is turnedaround its axis and at the same time displaced aside thereby applyingtension to the contact spring 2'. After the switch drum has turnedthrough more than it snaps into the next switching position. Afterletting go the switch cover Z) it returns together with the push rod 0into the upper position by means of the spring (Z.

Figures 67 and 89 represent two more examples of the switch drum. Inboth cases the spindle 7 of the switch drum 0 is firmly fixed to thebracket 9. In the first example the switch drum has a hole 0 thecross-section of which is a square, according to the latter case thehole 1? is round andiit is larger in diameter than the spindle Movingthe push member 0 downward the switch drum 0 is again turned from oneswitch position to the next one displacing at the same time aside. Afterletting go the push member 0 it returns to the upper position by meansof the spring d.

The switches as described above are operated by hand, by foot orelectro-mechanically.

Owing to the new arrangement of the various switch members it ispossible to simplify the design and thereby to reduce the cost ofswitches of this kind as compared with the known constructional forms.

hat I claim is:

1. Dimming switch for motor-cars, motorcycles and bicycles comprising aswitch drum with two series of switch segments, arranged in the axis ofthe switch drum behind one anotherand displaced one in relation to theother in the direction of rotation and with which are connected thesource of current as well as the head and dimming lamps by means ofcontact springs, said switch drum being supported in slots of a bracketwhich are arranged perpendicularl to the direction of movement of a umember, this push member turning said switch drum in the same directionof rotation from one switch position into the next one displacingat thesame time the switch drum aside in a plane rectangular or nearlyrectangular to the direction of movement of said push member.

2. Dimmer switch for motor-cars, motorcycles and bicycles comprising aswitch drum with two series of switch se ents arranged in the axis ofthe switch d i' li m behind one another and displaced one in relation tothe other in the direction of rotation and with which are connected thesource of current as well as the head and dimming lamps by means ofcontact s rings, said switch drum having a round ho e in the directionof its axis and being supported by a spindle going ri ht through said.hole, the diameter of w ich is ater than the diameterof said spindle wich is firmly fixed to the bracket of the switch drum, a push memberarranged rectangularly to the axis of said switch drum, turning thelatter in the same direction of rotation from one switching positioninto the next one, displacing at the same time the switch drum aside ina plane rectangular or nearly rectan lar to the girection 'of movementof sai push mem- 3. Dimmer switch for motor-cars, motorcycles andbicycles comprising a switch drum with two series of switch se entsarranged in the axis of the switch in behind one another and displacedone in relation to the other in the direction of rotation and with whichare connected the source of current as well as the head and dimminglamps by means of contact springs, said switch drum having a hole, withsquare cross-section, in the direction of its axis and being supportedby a spindle going right through said hole, the length of the side ofwhich is greater than the diameter of said spindle which is firmly fixedto the bracket of the switch drum, a push member arranged rectangularlyto the axis of said switch drum, turning the latter in the samedirection of rotation from one switching position into the next onedisplacing at the same time the switch drum aside in a plane rectangularor nearly rectangular to the direction of movement of said push member.

4. Dimmer switch for motor-cars, motorcycles and bicycles comprising aswitch drum with two series of U-shaped switch segments, the arms ofwhich form the switch segments proper which are mounted on the ends ofsaid switch drum which is made of insulating material and displaced byone in relation to the other in the direction of rotation and to whichare connected the source of current by means of two arms of the bracketof the switch drum as well as the head and dimming lamps by means ofcontact springs, a push member arranged rectangularly to the axis ofsaid switch drum turning the latter in the same direction of rotationfrom one switching positionhinto the next one, displacing at the sametime the switch drum aside in a plane rectangular or nearly rectangularto the-direction of movement of said push member.

5. Dimmer switch for motor-cars, motorcycles and bicycles comprising aswitch drum with two series of U -shaped switch segments, the arms ofwhich form the switch segments proper, which are mounted on the ends ofsaid switch drum which is made of insulating material, and displaced by90 one in relation to the other in the direction of rotation and towhich are connected the source of current by means of the two arms ofthe bracket of the switch drum as well as the head and dimming lamps bymeans of comtact springs arranged between the two arms of the bracket ofsaid switch drum, resting on one side of this bracket against the switcdrum, whilst they are fixed on the other side on the insulating platewith the current output terminals, a push member arranged rec tangularlyto the axis of said switch drum turning the latter in the same direction0! rotation from one switching position into the next one, displacing atthe same time the switch drum aside in a plane rectangular or nearlyrectangular to the direction of movement of said push member.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

GOTTLIEB STEINER.

